The Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group works to help people whose rights have been violated and investigates cases involving such abuse, as well as assessing the overall human rights situation in Ukraine. The Group also seeks to develop awareness of human rights issues through public events and its various publications

The civic movement Stop Censorship writes that on 6 April the media reported the Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration, Oleksandr Vilkul as saying that he would soon be signing an Order to introduce temporary rules for registration of Internet media outlets. The Head of the Administration states that this is in order to create order in the information sphere.

The civic movement Stop Censorship would stress that such actions by the Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration directly breach Article 92 of Ukraine’s Constitution which clearly states that the principles for the creation and work of media outlets is determined solely by the laws of Ukraine.

Such laws establish the procedure for the creation and activities of the printed press, television and radio broadcasting and information agencies. At present here is no such regulation for Internet media outlets.

The Movement believes that the introduction of regulation of Internet media outlets in present conditions would be used for so-called “creating order in the information sphere”, namely for removing Internet media outlets or journalists inconvenient for this or that government. The Internet at present is the only sphere where pluralism of thought and free circulation of information have been retained. Furthermore, existing legislation give sufficient opportunity for journalists to gain accreditation with the authorities.

Stop Censorship demands that any actions regarding regulation of the work of Internet media outlets takes place in conditions of transparency and wide prior discussion with those involved in the media and Internet spheres.